15 Dec 2014

Earlier this season, Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher blasted Raheem Sterling Agent for (allegedly) trying to pressure LFC into giving the youngster a bumper new deal. Carra also (indirectly) criticised Sterling himself for failing to reign in his agent, and ex-Red Stan Collymore is similarly irritated with the situation, and he's urged the Reds to take drastic action.

"Sterling is a star in the making, but he is old enough to have his own voice and put a stop to things like this happening"

Stories abound this week about Sterling's alleged rejection of Liverpool's £70k a week contract offer, and Collymore believes his agent is once against stirring the pot. On Sunday, he told The Mirror:

"Sterling warrants censure more than the manager. His agent seems to be constantly touting...stories that he is being offered only £70K a week when he feels he is worth more. I’m not so sure. Has he really kicked on from where he was last season?"

Collymore then urged Liverpool to draw a line under the situation and get rid of Sterling:

"If he [Sterling] continues to stall over a new deal I would seriously consider selling him, especially if another club offers more than £30million".

I totally agree with both Carra and Collymore here. I've argued these point several times over the last year,

* Why does Sterling deserve more than 70k a week? He's 19 (!), and has achieved next to nothing in the game, and he's now gone 17 games without a goal. 17! Sterling and his pampered, overpaid buddies have singularly failed to step-up this season, and that's the main reason LFC's league campaign is in the gutter right now.

* As Collymore suggests, Sterling hasn't really progressed that much this season. As a teenager, inconsistent form is to be expected, but if a player holds out for a massive pay-rise, he should deserve it, and Sterling has done absolutely *nothing* to deserve more than £70k week (an already ridiculous figure).

* Where's the burning need to hand Sterling a new contract four months into the season? The first priority should be arresting Liverpool's terrible form, yet the club continues to waste time and energy on a 19-year old who's (currently) contributing nothing to the cause. It's also no coincidence that Sterling's goal-drought has coincided with behind-the-scenes contract negotiations.

* According to Rodgers, Sterling is 'remarkably happy' at Liverpool, but if that's true, why is he stalling on signing a new deal?

* Liverpool deserve - and should demand - loyalty from Sterling. He should be happy with £70k a week (a £40k-a week pay rise), and if he demands more money, then that is greed, pure and simple.

* There's a strong possibility that such a massive salary may dull Sterling's motivation/competitive edge. Where's the need for him to push himself to the limit when he's earning obscene amounts of money? What happens in two years if Sterling's progression continues - offer him £300k a week to keep other clubs at bay?

* LFC owe Sterling nothing at this stage, but he owes the club everything:

- He already earns big bucks, and only signed an improved contract 19 months ago.
- LFC plucked him from obscurity and provided an opportunity to play top-level football.
- Rodgers made Sterling a regular in a team that participated in the Champions League.
- Sterling made the England team as a result of his coaching and development at LFC.

If Liverpool cave and hand Sterling a massive new deal (i.e. £100k+ a week) then it will be a slap in the face for the LFC fanbase. When clubs accede to player-power in these situations, it perpetuates the the pernicious trend of player-entitlement, and promotes a damaging culture of greed and rampant self-interest.

I don't want to hear Rodgers mewling about how amazing Sterling is, and how the club is desperate to keep him at Anfield; I want the manager to stop kowtowing and show some balls. Rodgers should call Sterling's bluff; tell reporters that he's paid ridiculously well, and make it clear that if he's not happy with his huge contract, then he's free to leave.

And I honestly couldn't care less if Liverpool sell Sterling. The obsessional deification of individual players is a huge problem in football, and, as always, football fans are the great enablers.

There's something perverse about blue-collar fans (many of whom are struggling to make ends meet) lionising offensively overpaid footballers. Guess what: Sterling doesn't give a damn about you; he doesn't even know or care whether you're alive. Like most footballers, he pays lip-service to the idea of appreciating the 'fans', but when it comes to the crunch, he's in it for himself, and money talks.

Yes, I know this is the reality of modern football, but it doesn't mean it has to be accepted. Fans are being ripped-off left, right and centre (for tickets/merchandise etc), and player greed is one of the principal reasons why. And yet, ironically, fans continue their rampant, destructive hero-worship.

A backlash against this shameless, egotistical greed is needed; for me, it's actually a moral imperative, but it'll never happen, because sycophantic fans are so wrapped up in the damaging idolisation of players that they can't see the wood for the trees. They'd rather pay through the nose and be exploited than actually acknowledge that they're being endlessly fleeced.

That's modern football, though. The irony is that when ticket/shirt/merchandise prices rise (again) to cover Sterling's ridiculous wages, the same fans who lionise him (despite the potentially massive pay hike) will be foaming at the mouth over the injustice of it all.

143 comments:

Surridge £150,000 a week, games played erm 2 or 3 games this season, it was so long ago I can't remember anymore... Sterling is being abused by Brendan at the moment, way too much responsibility for the youngest kid in the first team, either pay the kid his worth or get rid while he is worth something.... But don't insult the kids value to the first team...

but for now we should start similar team to man utd that was most we created , and most fluent we looked ...........................................Sterling..............Balotelli ...................................................Coutinho/Lallana....................................Moreno...........Can........Gerrard......Henderson....................................................Lovren.......Skrtel.......Johnson .......................................................................Mignolet

spot on this whole season is a disaster and it is all rodgers is fault why on earth drop Lucas we need to drop gerrard, allen, Henderson glen johnson i would keep Lovren as he needs protection and gerrard offers none my line will be

Why is he abusing him? Just because he's playing him in every game it's hardly abuse. Sterling has been offered a massive pay rise which at the moment he's doesn't deserve and he's turned it down because he wants more. I agree with Jamie here, I'm sick of sucking up to these pampered kids who have no idea about the real world. If he thinks he can do better sell him to the highest bidder and we move on.

I can see both sides of this argument. Increasing someone's earnings by more than double should be more than enough. However, in the world of football, a player's earnings are as much a reflection of how much value the club places on the player as it is a reflection of the player's ability/qualities.

If the media, the football world and Rodgers choose to position Sterling as the saviour of Liverpool, then why shouldn't he command the biggest wage at the club? Age is completely irrelevant unless his contract specifically limits his earning potential according to his age. If he is one of the most valuable assets at the club, at what age should he be paid accordingly - 22, 23, 24 years old? It's not right for a 20 year old to earn £150, 000 per week, but it's no problem handing out that sum to a 24 year old.

The lack of quality players at Liverpool only makes matters worse. It only serves to enhance Sterling's opinion of himself.

Final point: the idea that Sterling should be sold just because he's holding out for more money is impractical. This is part of the reason why Liverpool have struggled in recent years in acquiring and holding on to top players. Someone needs to make a stand against greed, but the club that does, suffers. The owners will have to make a choice between running an ethical club and a successful one.

I think recent events have shown that a lot of fans are not happy about ticket prices and getting priced out of football. Having said that there is a very clear argument here. How do you keep or sign the best players? Now we can all talk about moral issues but are those complaining working behind the scenes to join fans of other clubs together to put pressure on clubs to cap ticket prices etc? My issue here is I know football is just stupid meaningless escapism. But I love it. What makes football good to watch? Good players. How do you sign and keep good players? Obvious. One thing I would say is is Sterling being paid what other players are being paid for a similar job? Regardless of age if Christain Eriksen (for example) is on more than £70k then shouldn't Sterling be on the same? Wouldn't any of us think that if we were him? Same in any job. Do you think Samir Nasri is on less money than Sterling now despite having less of a creative output at the moment? The list could go on.

Personally I think it is a disgrace that any footballer gets the kind of money they get but I refuse to have sky, I don't buy merch. Going the game is where I am being fleeced but I am supportive a movement in football to try and stop these ever inflating prices. I don't lionize or deify any of these idiots with coordinated feet but I do think that in any work place there should be continuity and fairness in pay even the kind of pay that makes me grunt in disbelief.

If he was assisting more and scoring more I'd expect a 6 figure wage packet would be afforded him, but as this article states and I agree, the end product is not consistent. 17games without a goal is shocking. I knew it was a while but not 17!!!!!

sturridge 150 g week always injured ....the rest of the team well lets be honest are crap ......i dont like saying it but sterling is head and shoulders liverpools best player and should be payed accordingly ...mr glass is getting payed heaps for visiting bupa once a week .....funny how carra never mentions gerrad when it comes to contract talks and gerrard has been garbage all year

To make the point. In the league Hazard has 8 goals/assists (a nod to Jaimie there) compared to Sterling's 7 goals/assists. Hazard is on something like over a hundred grand a week. Yes this is an example of the ridiculous money in the game but this is just the environment that Liverpool have to work in currently. We have something like the fifth highest wages in the league. Show me a team that takes a stand and doesn't pay the big wages and you will see a midtable team at best.

Obviously Sterling is pushing for a move away from Anfield. Sadly, this is how modern era football rolls - pure business, nothing personal and emotional. Sterling as well as many other young players do not (nor will ever do) know the value of the badge on their chest.

It's really strange how Sterling's form changed once contract talks started. It feels like Don King is his manager...

Personally I think Sakho is the better player out of those two but Rodgers having a player he trusted as a leader and can pass it out from the back without going bonkers may have been good for the team generally. Those other two Would have been my picks. Yes we could have perhaps got the extra points last season with Eriksen. With Bony now we could be about 6 or more points up on what we are now.

cant remember , echo for bony over balotellibut makes sense just before summer we bought sakho we were linked with willaims everyday ]fsg obviosuly rejected then we went after that papadapolous fella but he had broken knees

then sakho lik balotelli became available and ayre thought they will sell shirts so he bought them remembver sakho was our "marquee" signing

its funny we bought lovren from the saints and it was okay then also i seem to remember rodgers signing allen when he had a gentlemans agreement that he would sign players from swansea ....what goes around comes around .....if you cant take it dont dish it out is my message to fsg and rodgers .....its all jealousy i dont think carra and co can hack that a young kid is 20 times better and worth 20 times more than he ever was .....in carras own words no other clubs tried to sign me ......thats because you dropped lucky pal at liverpool

If we keep giving in to his demands where is his incentive to keep improving? I think Sterling already thinks he's made it and that's half of the problem for his poor form. As far as I can remember I think Sterling has only scored one goal this season and watching him yesterday I think he was as much to blame as anyone for that defeat, his finishing was pathetic. I know we conceded three but if Sterling was to score with at least 1 of his 5 great chances it possibly could of been a different game. So the day after a 3.0 defeat to our bitter rivals I don't want to hear about a 20 year old lad with 1 goal this season who thinks he deserves 100 grand a week.

Here's some simple math. Sterling = Most minutes + Most goal +, Most assists = Most important = most money.Simples.Liverpool can keep nickling and diming all they want, but in the end it will only work to their detriment. Look at where all the "sensible" approaches to incentive based contracts, moneyball recruitment have got the team.The best player left, the team can't land not even 1 of several high profile targets, and settles for the scraps.Pay sterling the big bucks, send a signal that Liverpool (owners) are not cheap, maybe a Sanchez, Costa, even a Willian or Salah will want to join the team, otherwise it will only get worse.It's not "greed" it's business, economics, law of supply and demand. Sterling constitutes a rare resource - young, talnted, English. Both in the short term and long term it makes sense to pay him what he's worth and keep him happy, his value will only increase.Show me any other 20 year old that is on the same level.

Rodgers is out of his depth. Last season was a flash in the pan with SAS goals & no European football covering up other issues. Rodgers can't organize defensive tactics & is hopeless at choosing new signings. He's full of self belief & bullshit saying he can 'add value' to players through his brilliant coaching. Yeah right, that's why he got in Aspas, Illori etc yet they've been rightly shipped out. His team selections from what he's got available are awful, insisting on using the laughably average Joe Allen as an ever present. I could weep. 9 mill for Migs & Reina cast out cos Rodgers fell out with him. Playing midfielders up front cos he's fallen out with Borini. Is that good management of resources? No, Rodgers' own ego comes first. Borini isn't great but he is a hardworking forward. The frustration of watching him flounder, waste funds & make crap selections is killing. I'd welcome De Boer, Klopp or Simeone asap.

Sterling needs players of Suarez and Sturridge's class to not only play alongside but to motivate him . He showed last year what a talent he is and has had all the pressure put on him to repeat it this season on his own . He has been thrown in at the deep end and is IMO currently our best player at just turned 20 ... He is in danger of being burned out before he is much older . If we don't get the right standard of forwards in for him to achieve his full potential I am sure he wants out and I can't really blame him. - especially if he not only gains financially but in his future development also.As I've said before I feel 70k pw is a good offer in our current situation and he must realise that reward comes with success . However money talks and if an offer that is too good to refuse is forthcoming then he should be free to leave. God knows if BR stays he is going to need some money for more players from somewhere !

How is paying a guy MILLIONS, who then proceeds to waste MILLIONS MORE on garbage talent, in any way shape or form "ruthless"??? That goes for Dalglish as well...both were paid MILLIONS to fail... I wish my company was this "ruthless"....

I would play Sterling at number 10 with Borini and Markovic ahead of him. Markovic's pace and Borni's work rate and mobility will create space for Sterling to run into. Sterling showed last season he can finish but if you are going to put all the pressure on him and ask him to run himself into the ground then you are asking for trouble. Play him out wide and he is an even bigger waste.

People make choices about what they spend their money on. If they did not think football was worth the money they would spend it on something else and football would have to cut their prices to survive.

Year on year though they choose to spend ever more money on football and none is forcing them.

like i said of everyone at the club i feel sorry for Raheem Sterling he should be playing at a much higher level with much better players only Coutinho and Sturridge when fit deserve to be on the same pitch as Sterling

He is new ..he need time to settle in ... but the reason being out of position is because he need to do DM jobs .. If the DM (SG) can't do their job properly even the world class defender will become rubbish .. No disrespect to SG but LIV fans are too protecting SG and find a scapegoat which is Lovren ..

No mate plenty of us have been quite scathing about SG in that position but that doesn't change everything wrong Lovren has done. One of his problems is he feels he has to go for everything getting in other CBs ways at times. That is not a DM problem. The list could go on if I could be bothered.

yeah but even in 2011 when suarez was not scoring goals he only got 15 in his first one and a half season which was a poor return everyone could see he was one of the most valuable players in the team same with sterling game play dribbling , moving team up pitch troubling opposition skills dictate sterling si liverpools most valuable player

70g and the chances are hell walk or at the very least run his contract down ....and come on jk hazard is playing in a well drilled team with quality players who have a purpose if sterling was in that team his stats would improve no end .....what do you think hazards stats would be playing in this current team .......ill tell you ....POOR

Brendan cannot lead Liverpool to great heights. He is just a 1 hit wonder - something he proved last season and did the same at Swansea. His lack of tactic mastery coupled with poor decision making and possible loss of dressing room on numerous occasions justifies why he should be sacked now and not later. Getting a win or 2 under his belt will be s false sense of comfort. Do the right thing and replace him after the Arsenal game...win or lose!

Just like a large proportion of the current LFC squad...Too much money, not enough passion, effort and commitment given to that which such a glorious club deserves. Start making this great club and the fantastic supporters proud and then you can feel deserved of more

Even with injuries, Sturridge is more valuable to the team than Sterling, and deserves to be paid more. He guarantees goals; Sterling doesn't. When Suarez was suspended last season, Sturridge didn't do a disappearing act like Sterling has this year - he stepped up, and scored three vital vital winning goals in a row. That's why he's more valuable.

Even last season he was the third most productive player from open play. That is in a title challenging side. There is an argument that Sterling has suffered from lack of quality around him. It is hard to argue with Sturridg's importance but have you not yourself said he cannot be relied upon? After Sturridge who do we currently have who is better than Sterling? And lets not try and destroy a young lads confidence by not producing enough in a struggling side.

Br has lost the plot just like he did last season when we should have won the leaque. Instead of playing to draw with Chelsea he tried to win, 3-0 up against Crystal Palace and again made poor decisions. Sunday against Manu he brought on Markovic and took moreno off leaving his defence wide open. He regularly drops players that had a good game and replaces them with his favourites ie. Allen, Henderson, Courtino. How are the players suppose to gain confidence when he keeps breaking it. His selection is of a confused and under pressure person and he needs to keave as soon as possible. How can you sell your best player "Suarez" and not replace him. That should have been his priority instead he buys Mario. Thats when it all started he clearly stated he never and is not interested in buying Mario then buys him a few days later. YNWA MITCH

What crazy expectations are you talking about!? Since when is top 4 a crazy expectation!? After spending the amount of money we did, expecting at the very least a strong top 4 challenge *is not a massive leap*. Granted, there are a few crazy fans who thought we'd be title/treble challengers, but every club has those crazy fans. LFC fans should be rightly be bitterly disappointed with this season. This season is thus far is a huge failure, whether you accept it or not.